Coal Notes
Before the bell rings…
 Grab
notes sheets off middle
– Open the article I sent you on Google
Docs, read, and answer all 3 questions
in your notes.
Take out your notes and answer
these questions….in writing!
 What
 Give
some examples…
 What
 Give
is a non-renewable resource?
is a renewable resource?
some examples…
What are Resources (2 types)?

Renewable
resources –
resources replaced as
they used
– Ex. Water, plants
(trees), air, sun

Nonrenewable
Resources –
have a limited supply
– Ex. Minerals and Fossil
fuels
What are Fossil Fuels?
 Fossil
Fuels – Forms of stored energy
that are remains of living things made
primarily of carbon and hydrogen through
the process of carbonization.
– Ex. coal, oil, natural gas
What is Carbonization?


Carbonization – The partial decomposition of plants
releasing gases which change the chemical composition
of the plants leaving only carbon and hydrogen.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8YHsxXEVB1M
Watch this video…
 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=
cJ-J91SwP8w
 What do you think?
 What is the message here?
 What do you agree with/disagree
with?
What is Coal?
 Coal-
formed
from partially
decomposed
Plant/Animal
matter, which is
turned into solid
brittle rock when
it is compressed
over a long
period of time.
Coal Facts You Should Know!
 Common:
The
most abundant
fossil fuel
 Compressed:5-10
ft of decomposed
material makes
about 1 ft of coal
 Cheap: Less than
half the price per
million BTU than
oil and natural
gas.
Coal Fast Facts




How much power?- 1 lb. of coal can power 10-100
watt light bulbs for an hour
How much left?- Should last for about 250 years at
the current rate of use
Use decreased during the 40’s and 50’s because oil
and gas was easier to use and more available due to
WWI and WWII.
Use has been increasing since the Arab Oil Embargo of
1973.
Oil Embargo- 1973-74
News Cast
More Coal Fast Facts
It is now used mainly for
the generation of
electricity
 In 2012 it was responsible
for 20% of the nation’s
energy consumption (39%
electricity)
 Mostly transported by train
or barge
 China is the major
producer and the U.S. is
second
 http://www.eia.gov/totale
nergy/data/annual/pecss_
diagram.cfm

Take out your notes…
 Try
to draw a diagram of what a coal
powerplant looks like…
How Coal Generates Electricity
Coal Factory Animation
Problems with Coal
In your books (pg 436) describe
each of the following…
Peat
Lignite
Subbituminous
Bituminous
Anthracite
Coke (on back of notes sheet)
Problems with Coal…




Contains sulfur causing
air pollution when
burned.
Makes acid rain!
High amounts of air
pollution (CO2 and
SO2) are given off by
coal power plants.
Causes more air
pollution when burned
than any other fossil
fuel
Coal Mining

Underground mining:
 dangerous,
collapsed
mines, fires, gas
explosions, and black
lung (lungs are coated
in coal dust)

Strip Mining - the
overlying layer of
rock is stripped to get
to the coal from the
surface.
 this
is cheaper, safer,
and yields 3x’s more
coal than underground
mining
Centrailia and an Explosion
Centralia Video
Mine Explosion Video
Problems with
Strip Mining

Less than one-half of the
mines have been
reclaimed…
 restored

to their natural state
Acid Mine Drainage:
(AMD) is when water
reacts with mineral in the
open mine forming highly
acidic water pollution the
environment killing aquatic
organisms and waterfowl
AMD in PA
 AMD
IN PA
Solutions to Coal Use

Mining Control and Reclamation Act of 1977 requires that mined land
be restored to its primary use (forest, field, etc.)

Clean Air Act of 1990 forces companies to reduce the emissions
(release) of SO2 and NO2 when burning coal

More coal in this country is coming from the mid-west instead of the
east because it contains less sulfur

New technologies are being invented to reduce air pollutants from
coal (scrubber - sprays the gas with lime or calcium water binding the
SO2, causing it to settle out – expensive process to install)

***Using natural gas is cleaner because it releases one-half the CO2
and SO2 of coal
Synthetic Fuels
 Fuels
produced by chemically
changing fossil fuels like coal. They
are cleaner burning
 In your books, pg 446, find the notes
for…
 Liquid
Coal
 Coal Gas
 Oil Shale
Fracking
 http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1
pCvdOg0Cec&feature=fvst